SAN ANTONIO – Crime is on the rise here in San Antonio, according to the latest uniform crime report released by the FBI.
Comparing the first half of 2015 to the first half of 2016, the report shows an increase in every type of crime except burglary.
Some of the largest increases are the most violent.
- Violent crimes up 27 percent
- Aggravated assault up 35 percent
- Murder rate up 37 percent
However, the city and citizens are making an effort to bring those numbers back down.
Ramon Vasquez, chairman with My Brother's Keeper, an organization focused on helping boys and young men of color succeed, also sits on the Mayor's Council on Police and Community Relations.
Monday night was the council's fifth meeting.
Vasquez said he's hoping they will eventually make an impact and that it will take many groups stepping forward, not just to talk about crime, but about issues with poor communities and discrimination.
"It goes to show you how much more work has to happen," Vasquez said. "It's not just one group's problem, issue or fault, it's a societal problem. We have to treat it as a societal problem and look at the churches, the schools, how we can help the police department help us."
The Mayor's Council on Police-Community Relations will meet again in March.